We always lead with the art scene, and this week, we highlight a few gallery openings as well as the Bergamot Summer Open, a gallery open house in the much-loved Santa Monica art enclave. Also for your summer fun, a selection of films, festivals, literary events and other goings on. When it comes to food, at the height of summer, picnics are very much on our mind, so check out some of our favorite spots to enjoy your packed lunch or dinner al fresco.

Gallery & Museum Exhibitions

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Bergamot Station | Santa Monica
Summer Open House
Saturday, July 13, 2024 – Throughout the day and evening
Artist talks, receptions, food and entertainment launch the summer exhibitions at the Westside art complex.

Craig Krull | Bergamot Station Santa Monica
Gronk: Ego Rising
July 13—August 24, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 13 | 4–6pm
Synthesizing elements of street art, modernist theater and B-movies, the Chicano, native Angeleno artist creates dynamic, politically-charged work that spans mediums and movements. Also opening, Claudia V. Solórzano: Urban Alchemy and Llyn Foulkes.

Matter Studio Gallery | West Pico, West LA
Talita Long: Indigenous Matter
July 14—August 11, 2024
Opening Reception: Sunday, July 14 | 4–8pm
Drawings from the artist’s Black Goddess series feature female figures portrayed with strength, wisdom and warrior-like qualities – their nude forms embellished with rubbings of stylized design motifs referencing patterns in nature, architecture and fashion.

Blum | Culver City
March Avery: Quiet Inside
July 13—August 30, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 13 | 6–8pm
In her recent oil paintings of flowers and plants in vases, placed on tabletops, alongside animals, or growing from the earth, the NY-based artist celebrates domesticity, nature and the everyday. Also opening: Maureen Dougherty and Peter Shear: Reality Show.

Louis Stern | West Hollywood
Chromatic Conversions
July 13—August 17, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 13 | 5–7pm
A five-person show celebrating color in the language of geometric abstraction, featuring paintings by Gabriele Evertz, James Little, Doug Ohlson, Robert Swain and Sanford Wurmfeld.

Pace Gallery | Hollywood
Gordon Parks
July 12—August 30, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 13 | 6–8pm
In partnership with The Gordon Parks Foundation, this exhibition presents some 40 photographs spanning four decades in the career of the American photographer, filmmaker, composer and writer, who sought to share the black experience. RSVP
Guided Meditation: July 13 | 12–1pm
Inspired by the vision of Gordon Parks, Led by Manoj Dias. RSVP

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Film, Music, Theatre, Festivals & Dance

FILM: Family Flicks: Night at the Museum
Hammer Museum | Westwood
Sunday, July 14, 2024 | 11am
In this 2006 comedy, divorced dad (Ben Stiller), trying to reconnect with his son, takes a job as a guard at a museum where the exhibits come alive after dark. Free admission. First come, first served.

FILM: Bringing Up Baby & The Palm Beach Story
New Beverly Cinema | Fairfax District
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 | 7:30pm
Get your screwball comedy fix with this double screening of two classics films from the ‘30s and ‘40s. Tickets: $14.25

FILM: Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
Vidiots | Eagle Rock
Thursday, July 18, 2024 | 7:30pm
Directed by Robert Altman, this 1982 film centers on the members of a James Dean fan club gathering at a five-and-dime for a reunion on the 20th anniversary of the actor’s death. Tickets: $13

MUSIC: Up All Night
Zebulon | Atwater
Friday, July 12, 2024 | 10pm
Up All Night is an afrobeat, dancehall and reggaeton party with DJs Sakaye and Nono. Free with RSVP.

MUSIC: Tree People Presents: Pearl Charles with support from Family Cash
S. Mark Taper Foundation Amphitheatre | Coldwater Canyon
Sunday, July 14, 2024 | Doors Open: 7pm | Concert: 8pm
The Hollywood native offers a cosmic brew of influences from Disco, Country, Yacht Rock, Funk and Folk. Tickets: $25

FESTIVAL: Asada Fest
Rolling Greens | Arts District, DTLA
Saturday, July 13, 2024 | 4–10pm
Presented by Northgate Market, enjoy tacos crafted by the best chefs and taqueros in Southern California, Baja and Sonora. Tickets: $75+

FESTIVAL: Lights of Dreams Festival
Echo Park Lake
July 13–14, 2024 | 1:30–9pm
This version of the Giant Lantern Festival celebrates the people and cultures of the Philippines. Tickets: $25-35

Picnic Spots in LA

Pack a picnic with your favorite treats – turkey and provolone sandwiches or hummus and veggies for the vegans, chips, lemonade (a bottle of wine for the grown-ups), cookies and fruit – and head for one of our favorite picnic spots around LA...

Palisades Park | Santa Monica
Up high on the bluffs above the PCH with stunning views of Santa Monica Beach, this 26+ acre park has park benches overlooking the ocean, picnic areas, public sculpture, a rose garden and more. Bring a blanket to spread on the grass. The perfect place for a promenade at any time of day or evening, being here always reminds us of Europe.

Solstice Canyon | Malibu
A little remote but worth a day or half-day excursion, this popular hiking spot has picnic tables under the trees and hiking trails leading to a beautiful waterfall on the rocks.

Pan Pacific Park | West Hollywood
An easily accessible urban greenspace not far from the Grove, Pan Pacific Park has playgrounds, baseball diamonds and picnic areas. Great family spot near lots of amenities.

Will Rogers State Historic Park | PaPalisades
An LA gem, the former ranch property of Hollywood icon Will Rogers is now the site of polo matches, horseback riding lessons, access to great hiking trails in the Santa Monica Mountains and a wonderful spot for picnics. The area above the polo field offers picnic tables and barbecue grills and is available on a first come, first served basis.

Literary, Readings & Book Launches

Weaving a World: Arabic Poetry in Translation
Beyond Baroque | Venice
Saturday, July 13, 2024 | 7pm
Co-presented by the Markaz Review, this immersive experience will delve into the beauty of Arabic poetry through translation with Zeina Hashem Beck, Zêdan Xelef and Maya Salameh. Free with RSVP.

Contact Tracing
NoHo First UMC Courtyard | North Hollywood
Saturday, July 13, 2024 | 5:30–7:30pm
Lisa Cheby celebrates the release of her new chapbook, Contact Tracing, along with guest writers and poets. Featured readers include Desiree Zamorano and Kat Kambes. 

Obscenesters Book Club
North Figueroa Bookshop | Highland Park
Sunday, July 14, 2024 | 5–7pm
Hosted by Tina Horn, check out the first meeting of Obscenesters, a book club focusing on the erotic, the abject and the queerly unclassifiable. The first meeting will focus on Andrew Lawlor’s novel, Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl.

Thank you for reading!

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